The Expendables are among the groups linked to Cali Roots through music, spirit and wine.

IF ONE WORD COULD DEFINE THE LIFE OF A MUSICIAN, IT WOULD NOT BE “INNOVATIVE” OR “SYNERGISTIC” – although both certainly describe parts of the routine. Instead, Raul Bianchi says that travel accounts for the overwhelming majority of their professional existence.

So there’s a certain home field advantage for Bianchi and other members of The Expendables when the hard-working Santa Cruz band takes the stage at Cali Roots.

“It’s a 45-minute drive,” says the veteran lead guitar player. “You get to see a lot of old friends.”

The Expendables came together as a teenage party band in the Bay Area. But they also proved to be very good at their craft, gaining in popularity and maturity, reaching out to a global audience.

Proximity is only one reason Cali Roots is a fit for the band. From their surf rock roots to their embrace of reggae rhythms, The Expendables developed an ethos of listening, seeking and inclusiveness when it comes to music. Just as the festival has loosened itself from the narrow bonds of genre (see story, p. 22), the band has always shunned boundaries to their music.

“Nothing is off limits,” Bianchi explains. “If country or hip-hop can be incorporated into a song, we’ll do it.”

Roots spread. And Bianchi believes it is important for music fans that festivals celebrate the fact that people are inspired by different sounds. He is frustrated when people shield themselves from other forms of music.

“They’ll say, ‘I like everything except jazz,’ or ‘I like everything except country,’” Bianchi points out. “Have you listened to every song? There is going to be something you like.”

And it’s that sentiment that has underscored The Expendables’ enduring popularity. “If it sounds good, play it,” he adds. “Ultimately you’ll be rewarded.”

Since their 2001 debut, the band has released 11 studio and live albums featuring dozens of singles. For this edition of Cali Roots, they plan to celebrate their longevity by including at least one song from each album on the setlist.

Refining the list is no easy task – a “friendly discussion” between band members is how Bianchi puts it.

“You want to please fans of the old songs,” he says. “You want to play some of the new songs that you’re excited about.”

When The Expendables finish their current concert schedule, they plan to take a break – which for a band on the road for around 150 dates a year means downtime to head back to the studio to start the next album.

“There’s always work to be done,” Bianchi observes, returning to the defining word for those in the industry. “The life of a musician – 90 percent of it is traveling.”

There are other common threads linking many involved with the annual Monterey music festival. Almost from the start, event organizers committed to a green ethic that included a severe reduction in single-use plastics and other environmentally harmful habits. Musicians have also taken strides toward sustainability (see story, this section).

But there is one common theme that is perhaps unexpected: wine.

People can sip the Rebelution 2021 Reb Blend – a play, of course, on red blends. Or they might want a hearty The Elovaters 2021 Criminal Cabernet Sauvignon. For something lighter, there is Collie Buddz 2021 Love and Rosé. A few years ago, Fortunate Youth even held a wine tasting event during the KiloFest in Paso Robles.

The man behind these labels is Tommy Booth of Wine Boss Paso Robles, a fixture on the grounds at Cali Roots and a fan of all music, especially reggae.

“I ran through Sublime CDs in high school,” he says.

Booth has not owned the winery for long, opening just seven years ago. Almost immediately, however, he thought of private label collaborations with favorite bands. He admits, however, that he approached the idea with little hope for success.

“Honestly, when I got a hold of Pepper, I didn’t think in a million years they’d be into it,” Booth recalls.

As it turns out, members of the band enjoy a good wine. They put their name to one vintage and then another, eventually choosing to bow out of the program.

Other bands were also eager to share their appreciation of a good bottle.

“I really, really love wine,” Bianchi says before chuckling at his passion. “I’ve tried hard to be a snob, but I don’t have the palate.”

The Expendables guitar player tells of visiting Corner 103 in Sonoma with his wife for a private tasting. As his wife offered her impressions of each wine, the staff member guiding the tasting applauded her descriptions. When Bianchi’s turn came, the expert responded with a baffled “Huh.”

While The Expendables were on tour in the summer of 2023, Booth visited them on their California swing. Band members sampled different varietals and styles.

The result was The Expendables 2021 Bottle for Two Petite Sirah, which Bianchi notes has sold very well.

“I try to have the bands involved with the selection as much as possible,” Booth notes. This involves inviting them to his Paso Robles tasting room or lugging cases to a hotel, where he can hole up with band members in a conference room.

When Boston-based The Elovaters expressed interest in a wine, Booth shipped bottles across the country. The sparkling wine they settled on won a gold medal and sold out.

“We’ve turned people onto wine,” Booth says.

The Wine Boss has worked with other groups, including KBong and Through the Roots. The confluence of wine and reggae has generated some excitement.

“We’re going to do another,” Bianchi reports. “It’s pretty cool. I think it’s a cool thing for the fans.”

Many of the band labels are named for songs. The Elovaters, for instance, chose their 2021 release “Criminal” for their recent Cabernet. The Expendables, rather appropriately, is a play on the 2022 single “Bowl for Two,” a Cali Roots mix featuring Collie Buddz.

Which song will The Expendables pay tribute to on their next wine label? The 2020 single “You’re Right Here” might be an appropriate choice. But definitely not 2007’s “S.T.D.,” no matter how much the band likes to dip back into past songs.

As for their Cali Roots performance, Bianchi is excited.

“There will be a lot of energy,” he says. “It will be fun.”

And afterward, wine will flow.